Fix this mess once and for all, say city residents

Tanaka Mahanya

HARARE residents are demanding a solid and permanent plan for garbage collection in the city as heaps of waste continue to accumulate in the central business district (CBD) and residential areas.

According to the Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts chairman, Shepherd Chikomba, the Harare City Council lacks a solid plan to deal with the problem.

He said council’s billing system was in disarray as residents were being charged for services that were not being rendered.

He has called for more planned campaigns and for the Council to engage residents on initiatives for waste disposal.

“When they launched their Operation Chenesa Harare campaign, we told the Mayor and his councillors that it was just another white elephant.

“The City Fathers have failed us as residents, and they have no plan to fulfil their mandate.

“There is nothing good we can expect from them,” he said.

Some residents, who spoke to H-Metro, said waste disposal was the city’s major challenge at the moment.

“We hope that the next campaigns they carry out will be thought through, so that they stop dealing with the same problems every day.

“If they hurriedly carry out the campaigns, the city will continue losing money as it would just be a cycle of wasting ratepayers’ money,” said one resident.

Another resident said the Council needs to engage residents before any refuse collection initiative. “Residents might contribute better than Councillors and help to permanently eliminate the problem.

“It’s not just a matter of throwing money at the problem, but acquiring the right resources for an effective clean-up campaign.”